New Year’s Resolution #1: Get Involved

Does your student want to make some new friends or personal connections this quarter? Encourage them to join a club! Cal Poly students can get involved with more than 300 campus clubs and student organizations. Getting involved with an organization has numerous benefits, including learning outside of the classroom setting, creating positive connections with fellow students, developing leadership and professional experience, and making a tangible impact on this campus. If there aren’t any clubs that match your student’s interests or hobbies, they also have the opportunity to start a new one!

To check out all Cal Poly club information on ASI’s Club Services website, click here.

A New Quarter, A Fresh Start – Health & Time Management

Winter Quarter at Cal Poly marks an interesting and critical time for student development. A rejuvenating holiday at home and celebrations of the New Year often carry the sentiment of a fresh start for many students returning to campus. Now is the time when students have the opportunity to really settle back into college life, step into their own routine, and find a balance between their studies, health and time spent with friends. As your student enters a new quarter, encourage them to strive for balance, learning from any mistakes or hiccups they ran into last quarter and making some adjustments early on to increase their likelihood of success. For some students this might mean eating healthier and getting more rest; for others, staying on top of schoolwork and finding a tried-and-true, distraction-free study spot; and for others, scheduling more time to hang out with friends or joining a club to deepen and grow their social circle.

A focus on staying healthy during this time of year is especially important. This means encouraging your student to continue making healthy choices, including feeding their bodies well, finding a fun form of exercise, getting plenty of rest, and if they fall ill, going to the Health Center immediately. The Health Center has tons of resources for students, including flu shots, counseling services, and standard checkups.

As your student pursues balance amid busy schedules, time management is the key, not to mention a life skill they will continue developing well past college. While learning time management can be a struggle for some, simple recommendations like anticipating the workload for the week, planning out a detailed calendar, and making project lists can help them feel organized and ensure that no deadline falls through the cracks. Ask your student to share their own system for managing their time with you, and let them know that Student Academic Services is always here to help! For more information on time management, click here.

Academic Advising: The Key to Making the Grade & Getting Off Academic Probation

If your student didn’t perform as well as hoped this past quarter, he or she might be placed on Academic Probation. Students are placed on Academic Probation when their grade point average drops below a 2.0 (C); those who fall into this category will have received an email stating that they are on Academic Probation during the winter break. For more information on Academic Probation, click here.

While being on Academic Probation can be scary and frustrating for you and your student, there are manageable ways to help improve grades and be removed from Academic Probation. The best first step for your student is to visit the Mustang Success Center /or their college-specific Academic Advising Center. These campus advising resources can help point your student in the right direction to get back on track academically. For more information on Academic Probation support, CLICK HERE.

Career Services Is Here For Your Student, Before & After Graduation!

Did you know that unlike many universities, Cal Poly requires all companies recruiting at their Career Fairs to have at least one job position available for students to apply to? Cal Poly students are highly sought after by employers across industry and Career Services is here to help your student prepare for the opportunities that await them before and after graduation. With College Specialist Career Counselors serving students from each of the six colleges and a wide offering of over 50 workshops and events per quarter, Career Services provides professional growth opportunities for students, preparing them to navigate their job search and future career path. Also important to note - Cal Poly Career Services offers services to Cal Poly Alumni for life. For more details, click here.

To learn more about how you can support your student’s career development as a parent/supporter, click here.

Is Your Student Considering a Change of Major?

If your student is exploring a major change, it’s incredibly important as a parent/supporter to err on the side of understanding and support. It’s not uncommon for students to be admitted into a major they felt passionate about at age 17 or 18 only to discover a year or two (or even as early as a quarter) later that they are actually passionate about something entirely different. Changing majors at Cal Poly isn’t easy – it’s a multi-step process specialized to each major that involves guided reflection and conversations with advisors, including workshops that ensure students have done their research and ultimately found the major that is truly the best fit for them. Although change of major is not guaranteed at Cal Poly, it is only possible for those students who are willing to put the necessary time and effort into initiating and orchestrating a change.

For more information on Change of Major guidelines and policies, click here.